11 for the hour !!!!

This may probably be the XI that could rattle this Australian outfit.

Mark Taylor Adam Gilchrist
Mark Waugh Matthew Hayden
Damien Martyn Ricky Ponting
Darren Lehmann Michael Clarke
Steve Waugh Andrew Symonds
Michael Bevan Michael Hussey
Ian Healy Shane Watson
Tom Moody Brad Hogg
Shane Warne Brett Lee
Jason Gillespie Mitchell Johnson
Glenn McGrath Nathan Bracken

Andy Bichel Stuart Clark


Mark Taylor is the only add-on to this Steve Waugh led team which I think has the potential to challenge this current line up. Many may still not accept it, but to beat the current Australian XI you need man-to-man advantage and a team advantage as well.

To start with, we will dissect the captains.

Steve Waugh will always be a stronger captain with his support to his players, mental strength and confidence. Ponting will be shade grayer than Waugh. But, Ponting has his own style of aggression that he developed under Waugh. Ponting has made this team INVINCIBLES. Ponting’s purple patch is still on and his fielding abilities are just second to Jonty Rhodes. Steve Waugh edges out Ricky Ponting slightly for me, as he is still more useful as all round personality than Ponting. Having said that, still Ponting isn’t much behind Waugh. :) :) :)

Mark Taylor’s finesse and touch is what an ideal opener would look out for. Mark Taylor will always fit in any team for his good cricketing brain, brilliant slip fielding and of course, those batting qualities with a lot of grit. Matthew Hayden has completely changed the art of batting. He is a run machine and with loads of burning desire in him, Hayden will always be a threat of any line up including the likes of Warne and McGrath. Hayden’s slip fielding capacity is as good as Taylor’s. Hayden will be my man, if I had to choose between Taylor and him. :) :) :)

Mark Waugh’s qualities as a pure batsman is unparallel. I would go any distance to watch this man bat. Many would still believe that Mark Edward Waugh was the most stylish and elegant batsman in the cricketing history. His strokes on the leg side is just brilliant. Mark Waugh is another player in Waugh’s XI who scores his runs quite calmly with a lot of wrists. Although, this Mark doesn’t make a good fodder in bang-bang form of cricket, Mark Waugh is still one of the best One day batsmen. Not to forget his cheeky off spinners and some stupendous catching abilities. Effortless fielding was what Waugh brought in to cricket. Michael Clarke, the little “NEMO” of Ponting’s invincibles had to fight for his place with the likes of many stalwarts. His 100 on debut at Bangalore will speak volumes for his batting capabilities. Clarke is one batsman in Ponting’s side who runs a lot to score his runs. He gets far less boundaries than what his fellow team mates do. But, that is what you want with strong strikers in your line up. Add to that, some brilliant catching and throwing abilities. Clarke can bowl some intelligent left arm spinners as well. Clarke is the man for future. Clarke is the future of Australia. I still feel, Mark Waugh to be better in all departments than Michael Clarke :) :) :)

Damien Martyn will be the torch bearer for this Australian line up led by Steve Waugh. Martyn provides that flexibility in the batting order. Martyn can also play his innings according to the situation. His touch is just second to Mark Waugh. I was fortunate to see, one of Martyn’s test hundreds in Chennai. One awesome team man. Andrew Symonds, with all respect cannot be actually compared. But, on his day Symonds will be even more rattling than Martyn. Symonds also offers stunning fielding abilities and all round bowling opportunities. Symonds will be a captain’s favorite. He can bowl seam-ups, spinners, field well and bat mightily. So, Symonds edges Martyn out for sure. :) :) :)

Michael Bevan would have won many matches from nowhere for Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor. Bevan’s world class finishing abilities is a known fact and many teams envy and are still in search of such a finisher even today. Bevan also offers some beautiful china man as a bowling option. Michael Hussey is probably the only player who has come very close to be compared as Michael Bevan. Hussey has been on top of his game right from the time he entered international cricket. The world cup in Caribbean is what Huss may still feel bad about. Called as Mr. Cricket, Hussey is as good as Michael Bevan. :) :) :)

Ian Healy is regarded by many as the best wicket keepers in the world right now. With Ian Healy behind the stumps, the bowlers never worry about what’s happening behind after the batsman edges one. That sort of confidence, is what oozes with Adam Gilchrist. Gilly, as he is fondly called is the best batsman-wicket keeper in cricket history. His batting capabilities are just phenomenal and Healy doesn’t possess such strength. So, even though Healy is brilliant, Gilchrist is still too good for Healy :) :) :)


Tom Moody has been a part of 2 world cup wins. One under Border, the other under Waugh. Moody has been the package, every captain would like to have during his era. Moody has a good cricketing brain. He possesses good bowling abilities. He is a handful under seaming conditions. Moody also provides that lusty hitting at the end of the innings. His flourish with the bat and his bat swing is what a lower order batsman should ideally possess. Shane Watson, has had his career much like Moody. But, Watson has been struggling with niggling injuries throughout. A fit Watson, can be very flexible. He can open the batting and can also open the bowling as well. He is a good outfielder as well. But, Moody for me is better as he was fitter and reliable than Watson. :) :) :)


Shane Warne is just world class. I won’t write much about Warne as the whole world knows how good he is. Australia still miss a champion spinner like him. Brad Hogg is an interesting option that Ponting has. Hogg’s control and the length he bowls is amazing for a left arm chinaman. Hogg is as good as Warne with the bat. But, on any day Warne would give me lot more wickets than Hogg. :) :) :)

Jason Gillespie has just worked hard time and again to keep his baggy green going for this long. Gillespie has lost his place after the Ashes 2005. But, until that dreadful Ashes, Gillespie’s career would be marred by lot of ill-luck. He should have at least 100 wickets to his total tally. Gillespie’s persistent line and length with some good pace rattles every batsman in the world. His 200* against Bangladesh will still be remembered for his doggedness and his hunger to stay in the side. But, that dint satisfy the selectors. Nathan Bracken has been with Australian cricket team since 1997-98. But of late, he has become more certain in this team. His intelligent bowling @ the death and swing @ the beginning of the innings is just what Ponting needs from his bowler. But, I would rate Gillespie more than Bracken for his sheer grit. :) :) :)


Glenn McGrath. The service of McGrath to Australian Cricket is unparallel. McGrath’s wicket taking abilities at a nagging pace and consistent line and length is just what McGrath can only do. McGrath has got all the top batsmen in his kitty. A gentleman off the field, McGrath on-field sledging and antics are still debated around. Brett Lee is the strike bowler for Australia. After McGrath’s departure Lee has taken that responsibility and is working on very well. Lee’s pace and now add that control, is just menacing. Lee can also be handy batsman down the order and fast sprinter on the field. Lee, according to me is just slightly ahead of McGrath. :) :) :)


With a 7-4 line up of different kind under Steve Waugh and Ponting, Darren Lehmann and Mitchell Johnson miss out on the man-to-man comparison.